About this role
Job summary
Volunteer Opportunities!
The gift of your time as a volunteer can make a significant difference to patients and their relatives at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
There are many different reasons for volunteering with us, some of the benefits our existing volunteer workforce have cited include:
Make a difference to patients, their families and friends; The potential to give something back to the local community; A chance to do something worthwhile and meaningful to you; The opportunity to work as part of a team - you'll be part of a volunteer community supported by staff and the voluntary services team throughout your volunteering journey; The prospect to learn new skills and share your existing expertise. In addition to mandatory training there are often opportunities to undertake additional training specific to the role.
Main duties of the job
You will be part of a strong, dedicated team of volunteers working alongside staff to provide holistic support to patients and their families to enhance people's experience of care. This might include:
Providing companionship and company to patients during their stay, this might include playing cards, reading or chatting; Where appropriate/required escort patients/visitors to different locations throughout the hospital including way finding - assistance with manual handing/patient transfers is not expected; Encouraging patients to eat and provide company at mealtimes - this is a non-clinical role, you are not expected to support with feeding as this requires specialist training;
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
Click here to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:o Blue Light card eligibilityo Additional benefits such as occupational health support and some staff benefits.
Job description Job responsibilities
Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Previous volunteering - people contact
Skill Essential
Various skills or experience
Motivation to volunteer Essential
Commitment and drive to make a difference
Desirable
Understands the role is to enhance patient care
Skill Essential
Verbal communication skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Address Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospitals
Hermitage Lane
Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells
ME16 9QQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)